Apple quietly updates AirPort Express

#1 Macworld

Story Poster

Group: MW Bot
Posts: 31,666
Joined: 30-November 07

Posted 11 June 2012 - 11:46 AM

Post your comments for Apple quietly updates AirPort Express here

#2 NE1956WS

Member

Group: Macworld Insiders
Posts: 16
Joined: 08-September 08

Posted 11 June 2012 - 11:50 AM

Sweet! I'm into my 4th year with the AirPort express. It has very rarely let me down, and even then, not for long. I'm very glad to see this update. It'll be a little birthday gift to myself. :-)

#3 d00d

Advanced Member

Group: Macworld Insiders
Posts: 12,593
Joined: 24-April 01

Posted 11 June 2012 - 11:51 AM

Finally a LAN port! Sadly it's still 10/100 Base-T.

#4 redgeminipa

Member

Group: Members
Posts: 974
Joined: 01-December 09

Posted 11 June 2012 - 11:57 AM

I would've thought Apple would hold off for 802.11ac before updating any of the wireless equipment. I won't be buying a new Mac or Time Capsule until they do.

#5 KPOM

Veteran

Group: Members
Posts: 1,357
Joined: 14-December 07

Posted 11 June 2012 - 11:58 AM

Unfortunately, the power adapter looks like a step backward.

#6 AaronShep

Member

Group: Macworld Insiders
Posts: 103
Joined: 23-May 05

Posted 11 June 2012 - 12:42 PM

redgeminipa, on 11 June 2012 - 11:57 AM, said:

I would've thought Apple would hold off for 802.11ac before updating any of the wireless equipment. I won't be buying a new Mac or Time Capsule until they do.

Makes me wonder whether this is "802.11ac ready." Maybe all they'll have to do is update the firmware.

#7 vaughner

Member

Group: Members
Posts: 39
Joined: 02-March 12

Posted 11 June 2012 - 01:02 PM

I like the power adapter setup for the old one. I have mine all plugged in to the wall and I don't have to worry about cables. (I have 4 extending and AirPort Extreme wireless network. I have a big house over 3 floors so it make Wifi seamless everywhere.) This thing would require me to "set it down" somewhere and that does not work in my setup. :-/

#8 jonyo

Member

Group: Members
Posts: 37
Joined: 08-March 06

Posted 11 June 2012 - 01:26 PM

KPOM, on 11 June 2012 - 11:58 AM, said:

Unfortunately, the power adapter looks like a step backward.

Keep in mind that even though they've done away with the fold out power plug being right on the unit, the power cord on this new one is like the AppleTV and doesn't involve a big inconvenient power brick or wall wart, it's just a cable. The actual power supply is still internal.

This post has been edited by jonyo: 11 June 2012 - 01:27 PM

#9 gbakken

Newbie

Group: New Members
Posts: 1
Joined: 11-June 12

Posted 11 June 2012 - 01:30 PM

This "update" appears to be more of a replacement for the Airport Extreme rather than for the Express. I agree about the physical form change. Being able to plug the unit into the wall without additional cables has always been one of it's unique and functional attributes. The Express has morphed into a new device while creating a "hole" in Apple's wireless audio offerings.

#10 pcharles

Member

Group: Members
Posts: 901
Joined: 23-February 04

Posted 11 June 2012 - 03:17 PM

Unfortunately, it seems to lack one of the original Express's features, which was the built in power socket.

#11 darrynpeterlowe

Member

Group: Members
Posts: 73
Joined: 22-October 11

Posted 11 June 2012 - 05:08 PM

d00d, on 11 June 2012 - 11:51 AM, said:

Finally a LAN port! Sadly it's still 10/100 Base-T.

Why's that matter? Even at it's fastest speed with 802.11N it is still half the speed of 100Mbps networks. Given that it only has 1 Ethernet port no devices connected to this unit could ever communicate at anything more than 54Mbps.

#12 shawnminerg9us

Member

Group: New Members
Posts: 19
Joined: 14-July 11

Posted 11 June 2012 - 05:19 PM

So, now we have what could be a niche market, an a/c connector to go from the AirPort Express directly, or with a mounting bracket, to the wall plug.... Simple thing, China should have them by tomorrow or next Thursday... >Just a thought<

#13 d00d

Advanced Member

Group: Macworld Insiders
Posts: 12,593
Joined: 24-April 01

Posted 11 June 2012 - 06:36 PM

darrynpeterlowe, on 11 June 2012 - 05:08 PM, said:

d00d, on 11 June 2012 - 11:51 AM, said:

Finally a LAN port! Sadly it's still 10/100 Base-T.

I suppose with a smart enough gigabit switch it doesn't matter. I also thought they might have given the USB port disk capability. Oh well.

#14 machdraught

Newbie

Group: New Members
Posts: 1
Joined: 12-June 12

Posted 12 June 2012 - 03:35 AM

Does anyone know if you can use this new Airport Express as your main base station, replacing an older Airport Extreme? And can it act as the feeder hub to the older Airport Expresses, of which I have two?